SHS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
FIRST QUARTER MODULE 10

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

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Physical Science– Grade 11/12
Quarter 1 – Module 10: Household Products

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or
office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.
Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of
royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this book are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every
effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership
over them.

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Jiji Erick Q. Matias

Illustrator: Ray Daniel Peralta

Lay out Artist: Jose Gamas Jr.

Language Editor: Diana Desuyo

Editors/Reviewers: Jocelyn Navera

Brenly Mendoza
Kristina Nieves
Bebelyn Nocomora

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From product labels, identify the active
ingredient(s) of cleaning products used
at home.
(S11/12PS-IIIi-j-31)

Give the use of the other ingredients in

cleaning agents.
(S11/12PS-IIIi-j-32)

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 Supplementary Learning Module for Senior High School Learners

LESSON
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

The ingredients in your cleaning products fall into

several different categories, added to provide
different characteristics and cleaning functions.
Each product formula is a careful balance of various
ingredients that will work best for what you are trying
to clean. It is very important to know the active
ingredients and the other ingredients of these products for us
to know how to use them, and when to use to them. The knowledge on these
products will help us to avoid the possible accidents that may harm us.

Having the knowledge of the different

composition of your household products will help you to
know how they do their job and if they are safe or not.
Do you want to explore more? Read on and perform the
activities prepared for you in this module.
At the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Identify active and major ingredients in cleaning

products.
• Determine the different uses of the ingredients in
cleaning products.

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 Directions: Identify what is asked or described in each item
then encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following household chemicals is the main ingredient in bleach or bleach
products?
a. Sodium hypochlorite
b. Sodium bicarbonate
c. Ammonia
d. Sodium lauryl sulfate
2. Which of the following cleaning ingredients can cause the following side effects:
Carcinogen, toxin, genetic mutagen (found in most shampoos and toothpaste)
a. Phenol
b. Sodium hypochlorite
c. Sodium lauryl sulfate
d. Chlorite
3. Which of the following ingredients is the number one cause of poisoning in children?
a. Chlorine
b. Lye
c. Hydrochloric bleach
d. Petroleum distillates
4. Which of the following ingredients will you not use in preparing your own cleaning
product?
a. Lemons
b. Ammonia
c. Baking soda
d. Vinegar
5. How do the chemicals in cleaning products affect our health?
a. Contaminated water gets into the ground
b. Improper disposal of left-over products
c. Noxious fumes
d. All of the above

Hi! How did you find the test?

Please check your answers at the answer key section and
see how you did. Do not worry if you got a low score, this
just means that there are more things that you can learn from
this module. So, hop on!

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 WHICH CAN CLEAN?

Directions: Encircle the letter that corresponds to the household items that are used as
cleaning agents. Thereafter, answer the questions that follow.

COOKING OIL BOTTLED

WATER
SOFTDRINK

A B C

BEER BLEACH

D E

Question: Why did you consider it/them as cleaning agents?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 Good job in finishing the activity! Now, take time to
process the information you acquired by accomplishing
the next task.

Directions: Look for household products available in your home and observe with caution.
Fill in the table below with information about those products.

Safety measures While

Products Active Ingredients Use/s
in Use

Guide Questions:
1. Are there similarities among the household products? What are these?
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__________________________________________________________________

2. What are the differences among these products?

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3. How should we properly handle these kinds of materials?

___________________________________________________________________
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 ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN CLEANING MATERIALS

Active ingredient: Sodium hypochlorite

Formula: NaClO

BLEACH Purpose: Remove stains and whiten

Active ingredient: Sodium carbonate

Formula: Na2CO3
Purpose: Used to improve cleaning efficiency.
LAUNDRY
SOFTENER

Active ingredient: Fluoride

MOUTHWASH Formula: F-
Purpose: Protect against tooth decay

Here are some examples of cleaning agents with their active ingredients and uses.

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CLEANING AGENTS

Any agent that helps in the removal of soil is called a cleaning agent. Cleaning agents
may be either natural or synthetically developed. They are generally classified as: water,
detergents, abrasives, degreasers, acid cleaners, organic solvents, and other cleaning agents.

1. Water
Water is the simplest and most popular form of cleaning agent. It is extremely
user friendly, is a good solvent, stable and has a high boiling point of 100°C. Water is
easily available and is also cost effective. Water reacts with several other materials
including minerals. Many reactions are catalyzed by the addition of very small amounts
of water, example: formation of rust.
Water has a high surface tension, which means the water molecules attract
and hold each other tightly. This makes it difficult to penetrate the soil in the process
of cleaning. Also, because the molecules are so strongly associated, a large amount
of energy in the form of heat is needed to break loose these bonds and convert it to a
gaseous state.
Water has very little ability to hold soil in suspension. This means that once the
surface has been cleaned the soil may resettle onto the surface until or unless another
medium (like a detergent) is used. Water on its own cannot emulsify or break up grease
and oils on its own. Yet another characteristic of water is the presence of calcium and
magnesium salts which causes hardness of water. Water hardness makes the process
of rinsing difficult allowing the soil to resettle on the surface.

2. Detergents
Detergents are agents which aid better cleaning. All the limitations that water
has are overcome using detergents. Hence, they help to reduce surface tension of
water, emulsify (break-up) soil and lift it from surface, suspend soil in the cleaning
solution, relatively more effective in hard water and generally safe to use. The
constituents of detergents are discussed later in the handout.

3. Abrasives
Abrasives are very harsh cleaning agents. They are made up of mineral
particles and hence are very hard and rough to use. Some of the commonly used
abrasives are pumice, sand, steel wool and calcite. In addition, abrasives may contain
alkalis (to remove grease), chlorine (to disinfect) and organic solvents (to dissolve
grease). Based on their texture, abrasives may be categorized as creams, liquids,
pastes, and powder.

4. Degreasers
Degreasers consist of strong alkalis to dissolve proteins. They are extremely
corrosive and damage the surface. Most of the degreasers have a base of sodium
metasilicate or caustic soda.
Alkalis ensure that pH is maintained at a desirably high-level during cleaning.
Sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate are strong alkalis, which not only maintain
a high pH, but also play a primary role in removing solid grease. Sodium carbonate, in
addition to providing a moderately high pH, provides buffering to maintain pH levels

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 when a product is diluted. It can also precipitate out water hardness ions and, thereby,
provide some building function.
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) provides alkalinity at a somewhat lower pH.
It is useful for buffering formulations, which will contact the skin, and for other uses
where mildness is important.
Silicates perform additional useful functions. They provide corrosion protection,
particularly on "white" metals like aluminum. They are also helpful in suspending fine
particles and reducing the redeposition of soil that has been removed from surfaces.
Ammonia is a particularly useful alkali in floor wax removers.

5. Acids
Acids can dissolve calcium and metal salts and find use in tub, tile, sink and
toilet bowl cleaners. Phosphoric acid is a common ingredient in such formulations.
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid used in some toilet bowl cleaners.
Acids react with water insoluble chemicals to produce water-soluble salts.

6. Organic Solvents
Solvents have a specific place in products where grease removal and cleaning
without leaving a residue is important: window cleaners and products for removing
finger marks on walls, for example. Since such products are generally liquids with
water as the main ingredient, useful solvents must not only be able to dissolve grease
but must also be compatible with water. Organic compounds make up the solvents of
choice in these products.

7. Disinfectants
Disinfectants or antimicrobial agents can destroy bacteria and viruses by
interfering with their metabolism or destroying their cell walls. Different chemical
structures can serve this purpose, including alcohol, sodium hypochlorite, iodine, pine
oil, phenolics and quaternary ammonium compounds. Such molecules act as
disinfectants in household cleaning product formulations.

INGREDIENTS IN HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

In household cleaning formulations, the surfactant (surface active agent) is often the
most important single component. One or more surfactants are present in most all-purpose
and specialty products. Other ingredients soften water, provide alkalinity, bleach, destroy
microorganisms, and provide a wide variety of specific cleaning and aesthetic functions.
Surfactants are organic compounds whose molecules consist of two parts: a water-
hating (hydrophobic) part and a water-loving (hydrophilic) part. When a surfactant molecule is
introduced into water, the water-hating part tries to escape by attaching itself to any available
surface other than water. At the same time, the water-loving part tries to remain in water. As
a result, surfactants tend to strongly “absorb” or cling to many surfaces, such as fabric, soil,
glass, and where the water and air meet (the water/air interface).
When they absorb to a surface, surfactants can loosen and remove the soils from the
surface.

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 When they absorb to soil, surfactants hold soil particles in suspension and help prevent
them from redepositing onto the surface from which they have been removed. When they are
absorbed at the water/air interface, they reduce the surface tension of water and allow the
water to spread out. Without the use of a surfactant, water tends to “bead up” in droplets. This
beading slows down the wetting of the surface and inhibits the cleaning process. Surfactants
make water “wetter.” Surfactants are classified by their ionic (electrical) charge.
Anionic surfactants have a negative charge. Anionic surfactants are effective in
removing particulate (dirt, dust, etc.) and oily soils. In hard water, they react with positively
charged water hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Soap is the original
anionic surfactant. In hard water, it combines with calcium and magnesium salts to form an
insoluble soap film or scum. In general, anionic surfactants tend to generate higher suds levels
than other classes of surfactants. Cationic surfactants have a positive charge. In hard surface
cleaners, they can be used as effective antimicrobial agents. non-ionic surfactants do not have
an electrical charge. Because of this, they tend to be less seriously affected by water
hardness. In general, they are low foaming and are especially useful in products which are
designed to require little rinsing.
The major surfactants in cleaning products are biodegradable. This means that in
sewage treatment facilities they are broken down by bacteria, first to smaller molecules and
ultimately to carbon dioxide, water and minerals.
Builders follow surfactants in importance as ingredients in household cleaners,
particularly in all-purpose cleaners. The most basic function of builders is to soften water by
tying up the hardness minerals in water, so they do not interfere with the cleaning action of
the surfactants. Some builders also aid in keeping soil particles in suspension, thus assuring
that cleaned surfaces remain clean.

OTHER INGREDIENTS ARE PRESENT IN HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS TO VARYING

DEGREES, DEPENDING ON THE JOB THE PRODUCT IS FORMULATED TO PERFORM.

• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) provides alkalinity at a somewhat lower pH. It is

useful for buffering formulations which will contact the skin and for other uses where
mildness is important.

• Silicates perform additional useful functions. They provide corrosion protection,

particularly on “white” metals like aluminum. They are also helpful in suspending fine
particles and reducing the redeposition of soil that has been removed from surfaces.
Ammonia is a particularly useful alkali in floor wax removers.

• Bleaching agents act as soil and stain removers. They attack soil chemically, breaking
it down to smaller units. Colored soils and stains are oxidized to a colorless, more
easily removable form. The most used bleaching agent is sodium hypochlorite, which
is prepared from chlorine gas and a solution of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hypochlorite
is an effective, relatively indiscriminate oxidizing agent. Not only does it attack soil, but
it is also a disinfectant capable of attacking and destroying bacteria, viruses and mold.
It is an important component in many tile and grout cleaners.

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• Colorants are present in most products. They provide a product with an individual
characteristic and an appealing appearance. Often, they also act as tracers. In certain
toilet bowl cleaners, for example, the disappearance of color indicates the product is
exhausted. In other products, the tracer indicates the location of product and helps
assure uniform product application, as in certain floor cleaners.

• Enzymes break down soils into simpler forms that can easily be removed by the
cleaner. They are proteins that are classified by the type of soil they break down:
amylase works on starch soils, lipase on fatty and oily soils and protease on protein
soils.

• Fragrances cover the base odor of the chemicals used in cleaning products. They may
also counteract any malodor inherent in soil itself and leave a pleasing scent after
cleaning.

• Polymers are compounds whose molecules are very large, compared to most of the
other materials found in household cleaners. The molecules are made up of many (up
to millions) smaller molecules, which may be identical, or which may be of two, and
sometimes three, kinds. Linking the smaller molecules to each other is a process
referred to as polymerization. When polymers dry, they form films, much in the same
way paint dries to a thin film. This is particularly helpful in floor care products where
the film protects the surface and may provide a shine as well. Polymers can also be
used as builders and can assist as thickening agents.

• Processing aids are added to keep the product homogeneous under varying storage
conditions, and to provide desirable dispensing characteristics. Such aids include
clays, polymers, sodium silicate and sodium sulphate.

• Preservatives protect the product against the natural effects that occur when a product
ages, like decay, discoloration, oxidation and bacterial attack. Preservatives include
ingredients such as butylated hydroxy toluene, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid and
glutaraldehyde.

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I-Directions: Identify the active ingredient of the following cleaning materials by matching
column A with the correct answer on column B. Write only the letter of answer on the blank
provided at the right side of the test paper.
Column A Column B
_____ 1. Bleach a. Sodium lauryl sulfate
_____ 2. Laundry softener b. Hydrochloric acid
_____ 3. Mouthwash c. Fluoride
_____ 4. Dishwashing liquid d. Sodium hypochlorite
_____ 5. Muriatic acid e. Sodium carbonate

II-Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. How are the solvents used in household products different from industrial and
commercial solvents?
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2. Name three words found on product labels that indicate a product is hazardous.
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3. Why are consumers often uncertain about the ingredients contained in the products
they buy and use?
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4. The child you are baby-sitting swallows a toxic substance. What should you do?
___________________________________________________________________
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5. When is a product hazardous?
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Congratulations on finishing the supplementary

learning module! You have just had an amazing learning
journey and for sure, you will have the same in the
succeeding modules.
This time share to the class your final insights
by completing the following sentence prompts.
,

To strengthen what you have learned in this module, perform the following additional tasks.
1. Watch this video on YouTube about Cleaning Agent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167Hv6fl1lU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luEpZojHO1U

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2. Research on the mode of action of the major/active ingredient in your chosen product.
The fact sheet you’ll make from your research will be in the form of a poster. It can
either be electronic or handwritten.

Data on active/ major ingredient:

a. Chemical formula (and structure if available)
b. Mode of action
c. Where the ingredient comes from
d. How the ingredient should be handled. What are its precautionary measures?
e. Other uses of the chemical
f. How does the chemical affect the environment? (if available)
g. Is the chemical biodegradable or not? (if available)
h. Is the chemical natural or synthetically derived? (if available)
i. Are there alternatives for this chemical? What are the alternatives? (if available)
*a to e are mandatory information that you must look for.

The following terms used in this module are defined as

follows:

a. Biodegradable - capable of being decayed by the action of living organisms. The

number of years depends on many factors such as the kind of waste, environmental
temperature, and type of microorganism.
b. Non-biodegradable - incapable of being decayed by the action of living organisms
c. Oxo-biodegradable - capable of being decayed by living organisms only after the
help of metal salts added in the material’s composition. The metal salts speed up the
initial decay process after which the process is left to microorganisms to finish.
d. Surfactants - a surface active agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of
liquids. For example, in washing oil off plates, surfactants help the oil and water come
together by weakening the surface tension of oil.
e. Emulsifier - encourages the suspension of one liquid in another (e.g. margarine is
a mixture of oil and water). It is also called a stabilizer. It extends storage life and
prevents separation of ingredients.
f. Buffer - a solution of acid and base or salt that helps maintain the pH of a solution
constant.
g. Emollient - any substance that softens the skin by slowing the evaporation of water.
h. Oxidizer - a substance that oxidizes another substance. Oxidizing a substance may
mean supporting combustion, helping a substance breakdown, etc.

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 Directions: Identify what is asked or described in each
item then write the letter of the correct answer.

1. __________ are very harsh cleaning agents.

a. Abrasives
b. Detergents
c. Degreasers
d. Acids
2. Alkalis ensure that pH is maintained at a desirably ___ level during cleaning.
a. Low
b. High
c. Medium
d. Same
3. What is the common ingredient in most acid formulations?
a. Phosphoric acid
b. Hydrochloric acid
c. Muriatic acid
d. Ascorbic acid
4. What is the weakest acid?
a. Muriatic acid
b. Acetic acid
c. Hydrochloric acid
d. Sulfuric acid
5. Ammonia is particularly useful _______ in floor wax removers.
a. Alkali
b. Alkaline
c. Alkane
d. Alkene

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TRY THIS
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. D
DO THIS
Letters B, C, and E
Because they can remove stains and grease.
EXPLORE
1. Answer may vary
2. Answer may vary
3. By reading the directions on how to use these products and by disposing them
properly.
APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
I- 1. D
2. B
3. A
4. E
5. C

II-
1. They differ in terms of the hazards that are imposed by the products in which
case the household products contain less.
2. “Caution” and “Warning” indicate a moderate hazard level; “Danger” and
“Poison” indicate the highest hazard level.
3. Vague terms are used; label requirements are not specific; chemical terms are
unfamiliar.
4. Call 911 or immediately bring nearest hospital.
5. When its use, storage or disposal poses a threat to human health or the
environment.
ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
1. A
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. A

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Cleaning Ingredients. (n.d.). Retrieved from About Cleaning Products:
http://www.aboutcleaningproducts.com/ingredients/
Hazardous Products in Home. (2019). In Master Recyler Program 2019 (pp. 107-128).
Household Chemical Products and Their Health Risk. (n.d.). Retrieved from Cleveland Clinic:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11397-household-chemical-products-
and-their-health-risk
Household Cleaning Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from Muncie Sanitary District:
https://www.munciesanitary.org/departments/recycling/household-hazardous-
waste/household-cleaning-products/
Ingredients in Cleaning Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from Exploration Clean:
https://explorationclean.org/ingredients
Kumar, S. (n.d.). Cleaning Agents. Retrieved from www.chefsunilkumar.tripod.com
Lopez, S. (2014, February 9). 10 Household Products and their Active Ingredients. Retrieved
from Prezi: https://prezi.com/oxydtyhideiq/10-household-products-their-active-
ingredients/?fallback=1
Stevenson, M. (n.d.). Home Cleaning Products... safe, healthy, and green! Retrieved from
SlidePlayer: https://slideplayer.com/slide/4627483/
trumpeteerx. (n.d.). Can you name the common names of household chemicals? Retrieved
from Sporcle: https://www.sporcle.com/games/trumpeteerx/common-household-
chemicals
Types of Household Cleaning Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from Health Cleaning 101:
http://www.healthycleaning101.org/types-of-household-cleaning-products/

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